thinking about switching milk haulers

I have been with my company 2-1/2 years, its the first tractor trailer job ive stayed with. I put up with some glaring issues so I could loose the "job jumper" status. the glaring issues include junk equipment. my truck is a decent truck, but the trailers are junk, they are 20+ years old. the company keeps acceptable tires on them, but allot of them are dented pieces of junk and they aren't large enough sometimes to haul the milk on hand. consequently I am frequently having to return to one of my farms to collect what didn't fit. they make 74-75K triaxle trailers but my boss refuses to buy newer (he says his drivers will just smash them up, he does not have too many good drivers), better trailers.. no compensation is offered for that return trip to that farm. my truck is decent, but things aren't always kept up to snuff on it. I have been ridding around with an air leak for over a month now. I have complained about it and written it up multiple times. I had to ride around with nearly bald drive tires for weeks before they replaced them. my boss also doesn't really know how to talk to people, while he doesn't curse or swear at drivers his talk is sometimes demeaning.

there is also the issue of raises, they don't exist. I asked for a raise recently, after 2-1/2 years of good job performance, the answer was no. well I guess if you don't want to invest in me, my investment in you is almost over. im considering going to a milk hauler that offers double pay holidays (we get nothing extra not a penny), he offers safety bonus, and profit sharing after 3 years. the trailers are less then 5 years old (he upgrades). I know the guy that owns the company, I used to unload his milk when I was a receiver. my wife's cousin drives for him and has nothing but good things to say, like a driver that got cancer. the driver worked until he could not, and the owner of the company paid his full wage until the guy died. my wife's cousin received 2 raises already, he had worked there 1-1/2 years. this owner ONLY buys manual 18's and 13's, he tells people if you don't know how to shift, you wont be working for me...… I really like that.

so they are mailing me an application, im going to fill it out and wait to hear from them. the owner knows who I am, and is aware of my work ethics.

I am content hauling milk though

 

Just wait, he will offer me more money as I am about to head out. He's famous for that. My boss is famous for, in the past going around and saying drivers are a dime a dozen. He doesn't say that anymore because he would be eating his words, I doubt he actually thinks any different though.

It seems to me after 2-1/2 years I'm nothing more then an ### in the seat. He has plenty of meatheads that cost him money on a daily basis, like the accident the other day. Driver slammed into the back of a car in a construction zone. He has a guy that came here for a full time job, takes two months in training. When he gets on his own he refuses to work but every other day, refuses to go to oatka. My boss tolerates. Everything points to him just being a bottom feeder. Anything goes here too. Smash all the equipment you want nothing will happen as a result. He only fires people in very extreme situations. Driving drunk, not just once but multiple offenses will eventually get you fired. Personally I think he likes drivers with baggage, they are easier to control and become prisoners. I dont fall for this trap. I keep a clean license.

 

I prefer to stay local